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Voices column: You didn't see the smoke in Richmond? Really?

There was a big fire in Richmond last weekend, you may have noticed? If you didn’t, you were likely one of the imbeciles so wrapped up in your own world that you tried to walk into an active wildfire zone on the DND lands, bound by Westminster Highwa
fire
Fire crews have been battling the wildfire since Friday morning. Shane MacKichan photo

There was a big fire in Richmond last weekend, you may have noticed?

If you didn’t, you were likely one of the imbeciles so wrapped up in your own world that you tried to walk into an active wildfire zone on the DND lands, bound by Westminster Highway, Shell and No. 4 roads and Alderbridge Way.

The 12-hectare blaze — which billowed thick smoke across the entire region for almost four days — was one of the biggest, if not the biggest, in living memory in the city.

It’s therefore quite incredible that the aforementioned intrepid individuals failed to spot the scores of firefighters, dozens of fire trucks and, oh, maybe the BC Wildfire Service’s helicopters and planes dousing the flames from the air.

I had to take a second and third look at the City of Richmond’s emergency alert updates on Twitter, which, as well as letting people know the progress of the fire, pleaded with the public to keep away from the area and not go for walks in that park.

Really? One has to wonder what planet some folks are on these days when they think it’s OK to stroll into a 12-hectare wildfire to get in their hour-a-day exercise.

Are they really that oblivious to everything going on outside their smartphone (contradiction or what) or is it just plain stupidity?

I get that not everyone is tuned into mainstream media, or even social media, but the sights, sounds and smells of a major incident were smack, bang in your face.

I’m a gambling man and I’d wager $20 it’s the same self-absorbed twits that think it’s fine to text and drive.

I could say let them take their walk, it’s one less to worry about; but that would be cruel, wouldn’t it?

What I find equally, if not more, disconcerting is the distinct possibility these geniuses are likely eligible to vote in elections that affect us all.

Wow. Chew on that thought. So how is everything tasting?

Back to the firefighters (I had intended to use this column to praise them, before getting distracted by Dumb and Dumbers) who, once again, showed us all they’re worth their weight in gold.

Many of us — and I include myself, as I have and do make fun of my firefighting soccer teammates — crack jokes about them sitting around all day, playing table tennis, eating and sleeping.

Granted, depending on what kind of day it is, there may be times when firefighters are waiting around for something bad to happen — downtime which occurs less and less, given the multitude of emergencies fire crews are called to these days.

But last weekend was case in point why we need firefighters hanging around, just in case. Richmond Nature Park was right next door and residential areas were also close by.

I’d much rather have them, ready and waiting, playing ping pong, or not, and maybe even keeping the idiots from walking feet-first into a giant, burning bog fire.